When Warm Alexey? What holiday is it? What are the signs associated with this day?

March 30 in Russia was honored by the Man of God St. Alexis. In the national calendar this holiday is listed as Alexey Teply. What do we know about this day? Why is it called that? When Warm Alexey? How did his ancestors celebrate it? And what signs have come down to our days?

History of the holiday: choice and formation

In the family of deeply believing Romans Ephimius and Aglaïde, the boy Alexis was born. Since childhood, the child has been very pious. Growing up, he began to observe all fasts, praying for a long time and giving alms. As a young man, he decided to devote his life to serving God.

Parents chose a bride for their son, their engagement took place. But Alexei could not accept the mundane life prepared by his parents. As soon as the moment came, he secretly left his parents' house. The young man boarded a ship and arrived in the city of Edessa. There the young man sold everything he had and distributed the money to the needy. For himself, he chose the life of the righteous.

He spent seventeen years in a foreign land. Once the Mother of God through her icon ordered the man of God to enter the church. History says that it was necessary to find a person whose prayers ascend to God and on which there is the Holy Spirit. For a very long time they could not understand who was talking about, until the voice of the icon again prompted, demanding to bring the man of God who sits on the porch. They brought the Roman righteous. So the believers learned about Alexy.

Return

Glory was heavy on Alexia, and he decided to leave Edessa. Again the righteous went on a voyage to an unknown city, but by the will of fate the storm carried him to the shores of Italy. The Monk returned to Rome. No one could even imagine that the blessed one is a young man who left his hometown 17 years ago.

He came to his father's house in search of charity and shelter. Efimius did not recognize the escaped son. The father ordered to determine his angle and regularly feed him from the master's table. So lived for seventeen years, Alexei in the father's house, constantly praying.

The Lord informed the man of God Alexis about the date of his death. The Monk laid his whole life on the scroll, asking forgiveness from the bride and parents.

In 441, his body was placed on the square, where everyone could come. Near the dead saint, people were healed. According to legend, the Emperor and the Pope personally carried Alexis's body to the church.

Traditions

After many years, this story is passed on from generation to generation. The Day of Warm Alexei in Russia has always been greeted with merriment and hopes for a warm and fertile year.

This holiday is always celebrated on March 30. When Warm Alexei came forward, everyone dressed in the best outfits and celebrated, it was not recommended to work, so as not to anger the spring.

On this day it was customary to feed everyone knocked on the gate. The main dish in this holiday was always considered a fried goose. People went to visit each other. The beggars on this day particularly annoyed the hard workers: they were all day and night drumming in the gates, demanding refreshments. Therefore, when Teply Alexei was advancing, many owners removed the gate from their hinges. The tramps did not have the opportunity to knock, which means they could not count on the treat. And the owner himself chose who to feed in the house, and who just give alms.

Warm Alexei is a holiday from which the collection of birch sap and kidneys begins. In the old days, children in the forest collected birch buds for leveling and use for medicinal purposes. Collection lasted only until the third of April, and after, according to legends, they lost their healing properties.

And, of course, on March 30 the beekeepers were eagerly awaited. When Warm Alexei was advancing, they carried their beehives and watched how the bees would behave. If the bees were not in a hurry to take off, cold weather was expected all week. If they actively flew in the apiary, the owner could count on a rich harvest of honey.

Signs

Most of the traditions are left in the past, but the signs are still passed today by the older generation or by people close to the church.

When Warm Alexei comes, here are such signs you can hear:

• Alexey, from each drift a jug spill.

• What kind of weather for Alexei, this and all the spring will be.

• At Alexei rolled sleigh past desires.

Warm Alexei is celebrated on March 30, and he is called so because spring begins with him. It was believed that it was from this holiday that snowdrifts begin to melt, fish swims to the shores, the sun shines brighter and warmer.